NEW ORLEANS – NFL Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk, the 9th Ward Field of Dreams Board of Directors, Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Orleans Parish School Board Members Cynthia Cade and Nolan Marshall, Jr., New Orleans City Councilmembers Jared Brossett, James Gray and Nadine M. Ramsey, Senator J.P. Morrell and Representative Wesley T. Bishop were joined by G.W. Carver High School students, the G.W. Carver Alumni Association, the Carver community and community leaders yesterday to publically unveil the new name of the 9th Ward Field of Dreams.
The stadium has been renamed the Marshall Faulk Field of Dreams Stadium in honor of New Orleans native and Pro Football Legend Marshall Faulk because of his steadfast support to G.W. Carver High School and the New Orleans community.
"We are excited to announce that the highly anticipated 9th Ward Field of Dreams will be named for New Orleans' own, Marshall Faulk," said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. "As a proud graduate of Carver High, his support for our city has been unwavering. While his legendary career on the football field led him all the way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he never forgot where he came from. He is an inspiration to us all to always dream big. By following Marshall's example, this Field of Dreams will support what our young people are accomplishing in the classroom and help guide them on a pathway to prosperity."
"Marshall's commitment to the G.W. Carver Family and the New Orleans community through the years has been remarkable," said Alvin Jones, President of the Marshall Faulk Field of Dreams Board of Directors. "He selflessly gives his time and resources into making the Carver Community strong and resilient. We could not think of a more humble and outstanding human being than Marshall, so it was truly an easy decision for our board to rename the stadium after him. The construction of the Marshall Faulk Field of Dreams Stadium for our community is a fulfillment of the commitment made by the Orleans Parish School Board and the City of New Orleans."
Once completed, the new Marshall Faulk Field of Dreams Stadium will feature a Geo Green infield replicated grass field, an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) certified running track, a field and track sports lighting system, a state-of-the-art instant replay video screen, a luxury VIP Suite and plenty of areas for tailgating and parking.
Faulk is a proud graduate of G.W. Carver Senior High School. After leaving G.W. Carver, Faulk was the running back for the San Diego State University football team and was later drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. In 1999, Faulk was traded to the St. Louis Rams and the rest is history. The St. Louis Rams became the NFC Champions and he was awarded the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Despite his illustrious career, which includes being a Super Bowl champion, NFL Hall of Famer, and NFL Network analyst, Faulk has never forgotten about his alma mater and New Orleans.
Nearly 10 years after Hurricane Katrina, and even before the storm, Faulk's contribution and dedication to the community that raised him has never wavered. Due to his unconditional support for his school, the Ninth Ward and his community, the 9th Ward Field of Dreams Board of Directors unanimously voted to rename the stadium in his honor.
Located on Almonaster Avenue, the Marshall Faulk Field of Dreams stadium will serve as the home field for the G.W. Carver High School Rams and other Orleans Parish schools. The stadium will also serve as a resource for all Orleans Parish public, private, and parochial schools and potentially for the Louisiana High School Athletics Association (LHSAA) events. The stadium has the potential to be a great location for convocations, commencements, festivals, and community events.
The Marshall Faulk Field of Dreams, formerly the 9th Ward Field of Dreams, was inspired by 30 students who were attending G.W. Carver Senior High School. In 2008, despite the damage to their field caused by Hurricane Katrina, these determined students restarted their football team. This display of resilience encouraged the surrounding community and changed the outcome of a devastated and seemingly forgotten neighborhood.
